Dutch von Shed – Bike EXIFhttp://www.bikeexif.com
Bike EXIF is a showcase for the world's most exciting custom motorcycles, from cafe racers to bobbers to scramblers.Tue, 26 Sep 2017 17:01:02 +0000en-UShourly1Yamaha SR250 by Auto Fabricahttp://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-sr250-2
http://www.bikeexif.com/yamaha-sr250-2#respondSat, 30 Nov 2013 17:30:55 +0000http://www.bikeexif.com/?p=16460
The SR400 has been around for a while as a popular custom donor bike, but we shouldn’t overlook its little 250cc brother, which is equally simple in construction and, as demonstrated by the UK’s new-kids-on-the-custom-block Auto Fabrica, it can make a cracking little custom street bike. This is their third build, otherwise known as the Type 3.

Bujar and the guys have quickly established themselves on the UK custom scene with a set of three high quality builds, all of which show the difference between bikes that are ‘designed’ and bikes that are simply built. We’re not suggesting every bike needs rendered artwork before you get the spanners out, but when it’s done right, a pre-planned build does usually come out just that little bit better. It also means the guys get to pay extra attention to all the little details because the overall shape is already taken care of.

Like all builds of this ilk, the work began at the back end with a reworked, chopped and lopped frame to accommodate a brat/tracker style seat, which kicks gently upwards halfway along its length. The pale brown leather gives way to a neat little black V-shape at the back, which seems is a new Auto Fabrica trademark, but it also adds a simple touch of class.

The mounting points for the rear shortie fender and tank were modified to keep fixings hidden away and to run a clean line from the tank to the seat. Sometimes just a few millimeters change of a tank angle or link from one component to another makes a huge difference in the overall look and feel of a build, and the guys at Auto Fabrica excel at taking this into account.

Most builders like to hide the battery, but in the case of this build it’s been eliminated altogether as the SR250 has a kickstart, and it’s an easy bike to boot into life. Saving weight on a 250 is always a great performance mod, plus it removes the problem of where to hide a big ugly plastic box in a tiny frame. Besides, kick starting a bike always makes you look badass and somehow more mechanically skilled, compared to just thumbing a little red button on the bars.

The Type 3’s single pipe has a lobster-back, welded section construction, which looks very bespoke and was the only way to get the neat flowing curve that the guys had put into their design. It also adds texture and avoid choosing between steel, chrome or pipewrap. They also liked the bluing of the metal around the welds.

There are a few nice touches in the leatherwork on this bike too, with hand stitched grips matching neat covers on the kickstart and gear lever, as well as the more obvious seat. Bates-style lighting takes care of the basics at the front and the back of the bike, with no indicators required for this no frills build. The speedo is small, black and unobtrusive and the cabled controls are equally understated.

It’s a clean and simple build, and establishes Auto Fabrica as a name to watch. You can guarantee we’ll be hearing a lot more about these guys.

But then Ducati changed tack. The visual flat line running parallel to the road disappeared, replaced by sloping tanks and seats meeting in a V-shape between the wheels. It’s sound engineering, but less easy on the eye. And it makes it hard to give a modern Ducati retro looks.

Thanks to designer Pierre Terblanche, we had a brief five-year respite, when Ducati launched the SportClassic—a bike with bevel-head looks, reliable twin-spark power and an up-to-date chassis. It was all over by 2010, but Steve Hillary of the UK’s Red Max Speed Shop wasn’t taking that lying down.

Being the owner of a Ducati Paul Smart 1000LE, Steve knew he’d be onto a winner if he could create a SportClassic/Imola-style tank that would fit the Ducati Monster. There were a few similar things going on in Italy, but nothing in the UK.

Steve’s plan to build a run of tanks quickly turned into a complete bike commission for a customer called Buck—and the stunning orange “Ducafe” we’re looking at here was born.

The donor bike is a 900cc Monster with the rear subframe modified to fit a Red Max Café Racer seat. It complements the Red Max Sport Classic tank perfectly, but it’s the addition of the blunt-nosed fairing that really makes this bike stand out. The frenched-in stacked headlamps were donated from a Ducati 999, and the style is matched at the rear with lighting neatly embedded into the seat unit.

Another standout addition is the single-sided trellis swingarm, which comes from an S2R. Lightweight five spoke wheels are attached via Öhlins forks and a 916SP rear shock. Pure quality, courtesy of eBay.

The engine has been treated to a top-end rebuild, with fuelling now handled by a set of bell-mouthed FCR Keihins. And then there’s that exhaust … stainless steel robot-welded pipes snake under the engine and swingarm, finishing with two GP-style shortie exit pipes. Apparently it sounds as good as it looks.

Neat touches are everywhere you look, but you can’t escape the metallic orange paint scheme. The color is from the Lamborghini color chart: It’s a three-stage paint designed for the Diablo, and it stands out even more against the pale grey of the trellis frame and swinger.

But for Steve, it’s not just about the build—it’s about the ride. “She doesn’t disappoint,” he says. “Hard, fast and loud, as a Duc should be.”

Just what we wanted to hear.

Images by Greg Moss. Red Max thanks Pitlane in Winchester for the paint, and Stuey at Accutek for the wiring and “intelligent relay technology.”